2001 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC)

Purpose: The 2001 NESARC is the first of a longitudinal study being conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The survey will collect information on alcohol use, experiences with alcohol and related conditions, as well as the demographics and family history used in analyzing health data. This will provide data about individual alcohol consumption, alcohol use disorders, and their associated disabilities in the general population. The NIAAA requires the NESARC data in order to estimate the frequency and patterns of alcohol use, estimate the frequency of alcohol experiences, determine what medicines and drugs people use, and increase its understanding of why people drink. Results of the analysis of the data will be used to formulate policies in regards to the treatment and prevention of alcoholism.

Survey design and sample size: The initial contact will consist of a national sample of 58,000 housing units drawn from the American Community Survey. We will use a screener questionnaire to determine eligibility for the detailed interview. We will randomly select one person at least 18 years old from the household for the respondent.

Type of respondent: A household respondent for the screening interview and self- response with the selected participant for the detailed interview.

Sponsoring agency and legal authority: The NIAAA, an agency of the National Institutes of Health, is the sponsor. The Census Bureau will perform the work under Title 13, United States Code, Section 8.

Periodicity: The Census Bureau conducted a similar survey in 1991. We plan to conduct a follow-up of the 2001 survey in 2004.

Census Contact: Kenneth Kaplan, Demographic Surveys Division, 301-457-3836